The Genius Mecha Pilot Wants to Survive - Chapter 07

Gaspaeng Base

It goes without saying, but weapons are more expensive than you’d think. Not just expensive, but really more expensive than you’d think.

‘I’m going to have to stick to just mess hall food for a while.’

At least for standard military-issue items, I could request them separately and modify them.

A heavy armor endgame set or a standard meta set is still out of reach. So, I’m putting together the most cost-effective set possible that I can use in the next mission.

First off, this is a map where you’re likely to get smacked by enemies popping out of corners.

So, I’m requesting as much heavy military-issue armor as possible to equip.

I’m removing the machine gun from the right hand and equipping a shotgun, the rookie-killer for narrow, short corridors.

I’m swapping the left-hand shield for a wider energy shield to prepare for one-sided trades. I’m equipping the left-hand machine gun slot with an auxiliary battery for the shield, preparing for a defense battle that lasts all night.

‘Because a shotgun alone won’t be enough to cover everything.’

I’m taking off the shoulder plasma cannon and replacing it with a Multi-jointed Flamethrower. On the other shoulder, I’m attaching the machine gun I removed from the right hand to handle long-range combat too.

If the original equipment on both shoulders was fixed, now both are structures that allow for detailed aiming via multi-joints. It’s a bit of a pain to control everything with levers, but since the left hand will mostly be fixed for defense anyway, it should be manageable.

Maybe because I went for cost-effectiveness? I have a little money left over. I could have saved it like a savings account, but I’m confident I’ll get my money’s worth in battle for every credit I spend.

It’s best to pull out all the stops.

If I had my way, I’d want to stuff a beam saber—the ultimate bully item for tight spaces—into my pocket. But beam sabers are really, really expensive. There were crazy bastards in public lobbies who gave up everything else just to equip a beam saber, but they aren’t called crazy for nothing.

So, I looked around the app for some cost-effective items and found something to put in instead of a beam saber.

‘Oh, this exists!’

It’s an item that’s hard to use outside of defense battles, but it’s pretty decent for defense. I put them in the weapon storage slots on both sides. I felt a bit disappointed that I couldn’t fit a few more.

I boldly removed the remaining missile on the right and attached a supply storage pack. I stuffed it full of items.

And the order button! Someone had told me to talk to them or whatever before ordering, but there was no need for that.

Because the modification I planned is perfect.

Looking at the expected completion in the preview, a satisfied smile spread across my face.

This is reassuring.

The cost was quite high, but I’m all set to achieve an S-rank in this base’s mission too.

Planet Latrin, where the tutorial and several subsequent missions take place. Gaspaeng Base is an intermediate base responsible for supplying the front lines in the battle for Planet Latrin.

Inside, there’s everything from docks for ships to dock, to supply warehouses stocked with various equipment and food—there’s nothing it doesn’t have. Since it’s a large base, moving inside on foot alone is difficult. It’s a place where you can frequently see cars or 1st and 2nd generation Titans inside the buildings.

That’s how large the internal corridors of Gaspaeng Base are.

The problem is the internal structure. It was a base that existed even before the actual Human Alliance was founded, and it was located on a major thoroughfare of the continent. As a strategic point, it used to be a base with several buildings, but over a long period, it became one large building.

Because of that, with various destructions and expansions, the paths have become quite complex. Even the personnel stationed at the base barely know the way outside of the areas they frequent.

And this is where the Kilug invade. Troops caught off guard because it’s a rear base. A complex internal structure. Most troops who don’t know the way because they only stopped by for supplies and maintenance.

‘It’s the perfect structure for things to go to hell.’

If I were playing this mission on a computer, I wouldn’t be worried at all. I’ve done it countless times as infantry, but if I were defending this place with a Titan on a computer? I could bet my life on clearing the mission.

The problem was that I had transmigrated here and it became reality, and perhaps because of that, a few realistic problems arose.

First, the first problem. I don’t know which day the Kilug attack happens. I just watched a bit of the base video, rested, and then the attack video popped up and the mission started…

The second problem. I don’t know all the paths on this map either. In the game, due to difficulty adjustments and capacity issues, the playable map wasn’t the entire base. Some paths were collapsed, and others were impassable because the defense lines were already solid. If you just defended by rotating through a few front lines in a certain area like that, the mission was cleared.

‘I don’t intend to just hold my ground, though.’

If it’s for immediate survival, that strategy isn’t bad. But for long-term survival, I had to fight hard and earn money.

If you want to earn money, you have to run hard for it, that’s what I’m saying~

And the third problem. Actually, this is the biggest problem.

“So, you said how much is left?”

“Since there’s other equipment too, it’ll take about a week.”

It means my Titan’s modification won’t be finished. Some parts weren’t on our ship. As luck would have it, among those parts, there was one needed for the heavy armor connection early on.

In other words, the original request itself hasn’t really progressed.

“Still, it’ll definitely be done before we arrive at the next operation site~”

No, it’s going to blow up here within a week…

“Is there any chance you could do my unit first?”

“Well, the order doesn’t really matter, but why?”

“Since I’m doing modifications, I want to test it out a bit before being deployed on a mission. It feels different on a ship versus on land.”

“Hmm, okay. I’ll do yours first, Mister.”

“Thank you! Then how long will it take?”

“About 3 days from now? It should take about that long.”

Even so, it took quite a while. For now, I’ll pass on the parts I can’t help…

Even after the third one is solved, there’s a problem. It’s a problem that arose because it became reality.

‘I have to come all the way to the Titan storage separately.’

I already barely know the way, so this was a huge problem.

For now, I organized what I needed to do. I requested the Titan modification, which is the top priority, and next is memorizing the map. It was possible to view the map through screens in my room or hanging in the middle of the corridors.

However, it was impossible to download the data itself and transfer it to my Titan or terminal.

In the end, I opened my location and major points in my room and took pictures with my terminal. To think I’d be capturing screenshots this way in the space age…

The one thing I can afford to be relaxed about is the first problem, regarding the timing of the invasion. I don’t know what day they invade, but at least I knew they invade during the evening hours when people are slacking off.

Roughly, people are having a drink, and some are playing billiards or poker. I saw in the video that the attack happened in the midst of that. After the mission is all over, it becomes morning, and sunlight pours in through the broken outer wall of the base.

So, I focused on memorizing the map during the day without needing to be overly tense.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Yes, thank you.”

While I was engrossed in memorizing the map while looking at my terminal, the vehicle I was riding arrived at the stop(?). I greeted the driver, put my terminal in my pocket, and grabbed my luggage with both hands.

Since the base is so huge, there were vehicles operating like taxis inside. Now I walk into places where cars can’t enter.

Kkaang. Kkaang. Chijijijik. The sounds of metal and welding rang out loudly.

A place filled with the smell of metal and oil. It was the Titan Maintenance Shop.

To be precise, it’s named the 4-3 Maintenance Shop. Since there are many zones, it’s one of several maintenance shops.

Since the equipment they handle is all large, it was quite spacious even though there weren’t a huge number of Titans or tanks. I looked around at the people working and finally managed to find them.

“Brill-ssi. Hello.”

“Hm? What are you doing here, Mister?”

“You’re the ones modifying my Titan, so I thought you should have something to eat while you work.”

I quietly held out the coffee and donuts I had brought. Because Brill wasn’t the only one doing maintenance work on our ship. It was a bit of an excessive expense given my tight financial situation.

“Oh, thanks! Did you come all the way here just for this?”

“That, and I wanted to help with the Titan modification and repairs if I could.”

“Hm? Suddenly?”

“There might be problems when I’m deployed on a mission, so I thought it would be good to learn in advance. I won’t be a bother, so just think of me as an assistant and work me to the bone.”

And my goal is to speed up the modification itself while helping out with whatever I can.

“That’s a pilot with the right mindset.”

“We’ll enjoy it~”

Receiving their thanks, the Maintenance Soldier mode, which didn’t exist in Cosmos Story, opened.

“Socket wrench here, 30mm!”

“So, socket wrench?”

It’s a socket wrench.

“Aha, yes! Coming!”

“Please bring the waste oil container here.”

“Yes!”

“When replacing this part, if you just pull it out, oil will spill. You have to drain it first before replacing it.”

“Mister, can you bring the jack here?”

“Yes, yes.”

It wasn’t systematic training; it was just being called here and there and watching over their shoulders. But it was a place where I could learn at least the basics of maintenance.

Thus, a hectic day passed. Soldiers have their duty hours, too. When evening came, it felt like they were wrapping up today’s work.

Honestly, I don’t know which night they’ll invade, so I wanted to make them all stay and work, but I couldn’t.

‘Some low-ranking sergeant from a neighboring unit can’t just go around giving orders.’

So I wanted to stay, at least. I could sleep inside the Titan, and if something happened, I could just fight in it as much as it had been modified, couldn’t I?

“Ah, what are you talking about? We have to lock up here, so get out.”

Of course, I got rejected by the officer in charge of the maintenance shop.

I went to the cafeteria near the barracks where our ship’s personnel were assigned. While eating mess hall food, I look at the gun I placed right next to me. I’m ready to pick it up and head out at any moment.

‘They wouldn’t come on the first day, would they?’

I don’t even know if the food is going down properly due to worry and tension.

“Oh my, long time no see, Sergeant!”

I was startled by a loud voice from behind for a moment. I thought it was an attack on the first day.

I turned around to see our squad leader. It was James, who survived thanks to me. Behind him were soldiers in a swarm.

“What’s with the honorifics? Just call me comfortably.”

At that, he chuckled, saying he thought I’d say that. Then he introduced the friends behind him. He said they were roughly his squad members.

“Half died and half were sent to other squads. The rest are new guys assigned here.”

Most of them glance at me with “Who is that?” eyes, but a few seem to have caught on. They must be the squad members who survived the previous battle. Well, we did see each other’s faces on the same transport ship, after all.

Indeed, soldiers whose faces I recognize whisper something to the new recruits, and I see surprised or murmuring faces.

“Today, before we go to the next battlefield, we’re planning to spend some time strengthening our camaraderie.”

Hmm, camaraderie in the evening.

“That aside, you must have earned a lot of money, so why are you eating mess hall food?”

“I spent as much as I earned.”

“Hm? In the meantime?”

“I installed a lot of aftermarket equipment on my Titan.”

“Damn, I was hoping to get a free meal from the hero, but that’s out the window.”

“Actually, you should be buying, Squad Leader.”

When I immediately used the honorific, he burst out laughing.

“Anyway, since that’s the case, we’ll be going. See you next time.”

Then James stood up. Suddenly, a good idea occurred to me.

“Hey James, wait a second.”

“Hm?”

“Camaraderie and training. There’s an opportunity to do both at the same time, what do you think?”

“Oh, what is it?”

“A shooting bet.”

At my words, James’s expression brightened immediately.

“Oh, nice. That’s a hero-like idea.”

“If you like it that much, please drop that embarrassing title. And.”

“And?”

“Let me join in too.”

While I’m at it, if something happens, we can go to the maintenance shop together.